#003 William Whatmore - Building a Champion Mindset

In this post-training episode of Chokes and More, Miko sits down with super-talented brown belt William Watmore. Fresh off a hard sparring session, they dive deep into the daily grind of an elite competitor, what it takes to surpass your coaches, the evolution of high-level grappling strategies, and the intense mental battles that happen both on the mats and under the pressure of competition. Episode HighlightsThe Blueprint of a Competitor’s Week: William breaks down his intense training schedule across gyms in Torremolinos and Malaga—balancing lifting, teaching, and 5–6 weekly Jiu-Jitsu sessions. Surpassing Your Coach: Miko and William discuss the ultimate goal of a student: to eventually beat and surpass their own coach (like their mutual training partner, Santeri) and why a great coach celebrates that growth. The Evolution from Gi to No-Gi: How William started out as a dedicated, lapel-loving Gi player who "hated No-Gi" before ultimately making the shift to training mostly No-Gi. Pressure Passing vs. Speed Passing: A technical deep-dive into how rolling at a leg lock camp in Poland shifted William’s game toward heavy pressure passing to systematically tire opponents out. Feeding Off the Opponent's Mindset: William shares an incredible breakdown of his matches at Trials and the Euros, explaining how a competitor can physically feel an opponent "crumbling" and use that to fuel their own gas tank. Basics vs. Tricks: Why 95% of a beginner's focus should be anchored in fundamental posture and escape mechanics rather than flashy internet tricks. Miko's Backstory: Miko shares a look into his past, how he built his ironclad mindset while isolation-training in the mountains of France, and how Jiu-Jitsu serves as a true brotherhood that changes lives. Enjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9plAMD-jKkkRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_moreBJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonenYouTube: https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore